There were no upsets as all favourites in the Under-16 competition cruised easily into the second round after the first day of competition of the 100PLUS National Junior Grand Prix Finals in Seremban near here.
As expected, players who performed creditably in the last two rounds marched into the second round with ease, with Kuala Lumpur’s Odelia Wong Qia Shi living up to her top billings in the women’s individual competition.
Odelia had no problem dispatching off BAM’s Erika Vallensia in straight sets of 22-20, 21-12 in just 30 minutes. “Erika did pose some problem in the early part of the game with some unforced errors on my part. However, as the match progressed, I managed to read her style and managed to beat her, “said Odelia, winner of the women’s individual challenge in the last circuit in Melaka.
Zone C champion, Yeoh Zi Xuan then had it easy with a 21-10-, 21-18 win over BAM’s Tan Jet Sin in less than 20 minutes.
First leg Zone A winner Arena Satu Samin of Sabah joined the list of victors in the women’s individual competition with a 21-14, 21-12 win over BAM’s Chew Jia Wern.
In the men’s competition, Penang’s Samuel Lee, Zone B champion (second leg) had to work hard before dispatching off BAM’s Daryl Foo Kit Hann in three sets of 21-13, 20-22, 21-6.
First leg Zon C winner, Muhd Affan Attabek of Johor meanwhile, stumbled at the hands of Ng Yaw Pin of BAM, conceding a straight defeat of 21-14, 21-12.
Zone B (first and second leg) Jimmy Wong of Selangor were too strong for Muhd Haikal Nazri of Kelantan and the former notched an easy 21-17, 21-15 victory to book his second round berth while Anthony Samin Demond of Sabah followed suit after defeating Chia Jeng Hon of BAM 21-14, 21-18.
The on-going 100PLUS National Junior Grand Prix Finals, sponsored by 100PLUS and held at the Negeri Sembilan Chinese Recreation Club, features young talents who excelled in the last two rounds. The tournament ends on Sunday.
